Pickup baler



A. R. J. LUKE P'IcxuP BALER` Aug. 4, 1953 4 Sheets-Shadi. l

Filed March 5, 1949 A. R. J. LUKE PICKUP BALER Aug. 4, 1953 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1949 Aug. 4, 1953 4 Sheets-#Sheet 3 Filed March 5, 1949 Aug. 4, 1953 A. R. J. LUKE 2,647,355

PICKUP BALER Filed March 5, 1949 4 Shatsheet 4 Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITI-:D STATES. PATENT. oFFIce Albert R. J. Luke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as signor to Massey-Harris Co. Ltd., Toronto, ntario, Canada, a. ycorporation o fvCanada Application March 5, 194i), Serial No. 79,800

The present invention relates to novel means for picking up hay, straw and the like that has already been cut, wind-rowed or swathed and move it tothe baler and having other means for binding the material in bales. v 1

The principal objects of the present invention generally stated, are to provide a device of the character which is simple, light, efficient, easily manufactured at low cost and durable.

Pick up balers of the character generally have a packing chamber, a packing plunger, a Wad board and a wad board well. The wad board oscillates to press the hay into the well when the packing plunger is largely out of the well and from which the hay is pressed by the oscillating packing plunger into the packing chamber largely vwhen the wad board is out of the well.

A novel feature of the present invention is the means provided for conveying wads of hay intermittently into or over the wad board well, the wad board cooperating with the conveyor to intermittently force the wads of hay in front of the packing plunger while the conveyor is returning toa position for engaging the next wad of hay.

To these and other useful ends not already enumerated, my invention consists of parts, combinations of parts or their equivalentsand mode ofmoperation as hereinafterdescribed and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

AFig. 1 is a top View of my improved baler showing the needles during the period of dwell and the packing plunger in its most forward position not showing the wad board and its connecting parts.

,.Fig. 2 is a right side elevational view of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a left side elevational view of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the device illustrating the transverse conveyor mechanism by dotted lines. f

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the conveyor with the rear panel of the conveyor trough removed and illustrating the hay engaging means by full lines while moving toward the wad board well, the dotted lines illustrating the hay engaging means while moving away from the wad board well, with the wad board illustrated in its uppermost position in full lines and in its lowest position by dotted lines.

. Fig. 6 is a fractional top View of the device showing in full lines the needles and twine or wire in their neutral or inoperative positions o r during the period of dwell, and the needles and 2 claims. (c1. '5-343) twine' are shown'by dotted lines after the bale has been packed and isheld' ready for tying.-

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional-view-of` the transverse conveyor taken on line 1-1 of Figure l with its operating parts in` thje position shown `in Figure l.

Fig. 8 is a sectional end view of the right side of thepacking chamber taken on lines 8--8 of Figure .2 illustratingn the means for restricting the free rearward movement of .the bales.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic drawing illustrating the power connection to the various operating parts ofthe device as viewed 'from the Aleft side of the device. I I

' Fig. 10 is another vdiagrammaticdrawing viewed from the right side of the. device and similar in purpose to Figure 9; i

-Fig. 11 illustratesfractionally the dual means for'driving theioperating-parts of the device, not including the wad board and packing plunger.

Fig.' l2 ris an enlarged right hand elevational end view ofthe pickup device. S Asthus illustrated the main frame` is in its entirety'designatedl by vreference character A. The carrying Wheels-are designated by reference character B. The engine is in its entirety designated by reference character 1C.v -The pick up d evice is -in its entirety designatedv by; reference characterj, the transverseeonveyor is in its entirety designated by' reference character E, and the packing chamberisin its entirety designated by reference character F: i y

' The forward end ofi-member A is provided with an extension-frame Ill having suitable means H at its front endffor connecting the device to the draw bar of a tractor. I preferably-provide an engine C for furnishing power andv mountthis engine on extension framelll as illustrated in the gures, the engine having a driving pulley l2 (see Figure 3). A belt wheel I3 is rotatably mounted on. frameA'by means of a shaft I4. A crank shaft I5 isrotatably mounted on frame A in front of shaft i4.- Sihaft' It has a pinion I6 (see Figure).v and crank shaft lv'has a gear Il which meshes pinion I6. Belt Wheel i3, is driven from engine C bymeans of a beltl and in the direction ofthe *curvilinearl arrow I9 (see Figure 3). Thusshaft l5 lwill be`v driven in vthe opposite directionfrom shaft lI4 as indicated by a curvilinear arrow. 'Shaft' I5 has al crank 20 (see Figures 1 and' 3).

The rear'end of member A is shaped to provide a packing chamberF byk means of'upper and lower members 2l and 22 (seeFi'gure 3). The

front fend* of :this packing vchamber extendsl to most position. Packing plunger 24 has a connecting rod pin 25 (see Figures 1 and 3). 1This pin and crank 20 are'operatively connected together by connecting rod 26."

I provide ratchets (not shown) on' pp posite sides of packing chamber F and directly in rear of wad board well 23 adaptedjtobe springheld against the packed hay in the packing chamber so as to prevent the hay from moving vforward -Y by expansion or otherwise when the packing plunger vis not in contact 'with the packedhay.A

In addition to the meansfo'r holding thepacked hay from moving forward-'by expansion' or otherwise', I provide means for preventing they packed hay or completed lbale from movingfreely rearward in the following manner:

I position Aspaced apartbars'O-BD in the ,side spaces between members 2l and 22 (seeFigures 2 and 3)"and preferably hinge'the'se inembersat their front' ends vto thev packing chamber a short distance 'in rear'of the wad board well. Members' 2l and 22 are secured .together near their rear 'ends'by' means cf .brackets .3l-43h The brackets are shaped as shown in Figure 8 'and have secured to ytheir centers, nuts '32 through which bolts 33 are screwthreaded, having heads and cross bars 34 as a gripping means for pressing members 30 against the baldhay as follows: Brackets '35" secure'membersSD together and the' endsof bolts IIiB'r'estV on these .brackets as shown'. These bolts 'extend .through plates 36 which are secured tothe 'inner vlips of` members 3D. vThus without othermean's, members 30 will be held in vertical position and pressed against thepackedhay so 'as to retard its rearward movepack the hayin the chamber.A )A toothed wheel'- 31 'is caused to contact the packed hay andturn itsshaft .38 whichis roment and assist the packing plunger ltormly tatably mounted' onmeinberh.' This toothed f wheelhas thev proper "diameter so that when the packed `hay is formed asuitable .lengthA bale, a cam on shaft 38"wil1'oper`ate la trip 39 and'set the tying mechanism in motion which takes place when the needles 'are inthe position shown'r by full lines in Fgurew. n

Ihave alreadydescribed the means for packing the hay into bundles'and will now describe the means for tying the bundle into a bale.

It will be understood that I may elect'to' use a tyingI mechanism suitable forwire" or twine for oompleting'the'vbale and that the manner'of tying the twine or twisting the wire, forms no'part' of this invention; therefore detailed' drawings and ldescription are not considered necessary'. This tying mechanism is" designated in 'itsentirety by reference' character G in Figure' 2.

Throughout the specification and claims hay will now be used to designate hay and straw or the like.

- :n win lbe ,understood that' met' elect :110 .fm

Binding material will now be used to designate either wire or twine and knetter nish power for operating my device from the power take off of the tractor. The pick up device should travel faster than normal when the machine is moved over the ground faster than normal. I therefore provide dual means whereby suitable overrunning clutches or ratchets are used through which to drive the pick up device, either :from a ground wheel. the engine or the power take ed shaft of the tractor as will hereinafter appear.

`I will now describe my transverse conveyor E` AXiadboard well 23 is closed on its left side by a panel 45, at its rear side by a panel 46 and at its front side' by .a panel .41 (see Figures 1 and 3). Panels and 41 extend to the right forming the front and rear panel of member E terminating at ,anaend panel .48 and having a bottom plate 49 thus forming a conveyor trough. The front panel -4'! is open for a considerable height from plate 49 and for the length of the outlet from thetpick up device vD forming an inlet to the bottom of the trough.V

I provide novel means for moving the loose hay from the-bottom ofthe trough into the wad board well as follows:

Near the top of the trough I transversely space and rotatably mount double throw crank shafts 50and 5|, the cranks on each shaft being positioned relative to each other about as shown in Figure 5, and, considerably less than 130 degrees apart, the reason for which will hereinafter appear.

The Vrear pair of cranks on shafts 5i! and 5l are in alignment (see Figure l) and being operatively connected together by means of a walker bar 52 and bearings 5S-53. Another walker bar 52 is similarly connected to the front pair of cranks; Athereforevbecause of the position of the cranks on shafts 59 and 5i, bars 52 will act to turn shaft 5l. The driving connection to shaft 5.will hereinafter appear.

It'will be seen by viewing Figure 5, that as the shafts turn as indicated by curvilinear arrows, spaced depending pairs of fingers 54 will swing downand toward the wad board well and up and from thewad board well. Thus the hay on plate 48 will be moved to the left and over .the wad board well and while the wad board is largely outof the well and while the iingers are traveling to the right they are a considerable distance above plate v49. There is therefore, no interference with the free movement of the hay from the pick up device into the trough and under the ngers. v

I will now describe the operation of my wad board. A post 6B is supported and bracketed on member A (see Figure 3). Wad board 6I is oscillated on post 68 by means oi links v52 and B3 in a manner, whereby the wad board will be directed into the wad board Well, and the timing is arranged so the wad board is in its lowest position or in front of the packing plunger 24 when it is in its foremost position or substantially out of the well, as is the practice in hay balers of the character.

Link 63 is extended forwardly and downwardly as at 54, the lower end of which is operatively connected to connecting rod 25 by .means of another conneeting rod 65, which is at its rear end pivotally connected to connecting rod 2E as at 56. Thus it will be seen that as the Aconnecting rod is oscillated by crank 2B, wad board BI will oscillate generally verticallyT and be moved into the wad .board well as the packing plunger24 moves out of the well or vice versa. 4It willbejnoted 5. that the wad boar-d and packing plunger, transverse conveyor, knotter and needles are positively driven by engine C as will hereinafter appear.

It will be understood thatI prefer to turn shafts 50 and 5| two times for every turn of the packing plunger crank, or for each cycle of operation of the wad board, shafts 50 and 5| being suitably timed for the purpose.

I will now describe my novel and dual means for driving the transverse conveyor, pick up device, needles and the knotter mechanism.

I provide a gear box 61 into which shaft I5 extends and is rotatably mounted having secured to its end a bevel gear 68. A shaft 69 is rotatably a very important matter. When the needles begin to move into the machine from they position mounted in gear box 61, vboth ends` protruding rotatably mounted in gear box 13 and has secured thereto a beveled pinion 16 which is adapted to mesh with bevel gear 14. The left end of shaft 15 protrudes and has secured4` thereto the driven member of a slip clutch or ratchet 11. On the outer end of shaft 15 I rotatably mount a chain sprocket 98. Member 18 carries the driver member of the slip clutch 11.

A chain 18Y forms an operating connection between sprockets 1| and 18. It will be seen therefore that shaft 12 is free to turn faster than isy required by its connection to shaft 69, however when its speed drops below a certain point slip clutch 11 will be engaged and shaft 12 driven by, shaft 69.

I mount an overrunning clutch or ratchet 19 on the left hand wheel B (see dotted linesin Fig,- ure 3) and secured to this clutch a chain sprocket (not shown). On the left end of shaft 12 I mount a sprocket 80 which is operatively connected to the sprocket on overrunning clutch 19 by means of a chain 8|. A shaft 82 is rotatably mounted on member A having a sprocket 83 which is engaged by chain 8| and driven in the direction indicated by curvilinear arrow in Figure 9, the chain extending over an idler sprocket 84 which is slidably adjustably mounted on member A for adjusting the tautness of chain 8|. It will be. seen that shaft 12 may be driven by shaft l5 unless driven faster by overrunning clutch 19 and that the pick up device D maylbe driven by the engine through shaft 5 depending upon the speed the machine travels over the ground. It may be said that when the machine is traveling over the ground above normal speed, that member D will travel proportionally faster 'than normal and independent of the engine speed. I will now describe my operating connection to the transverse conveyor and to member G.`

A shaft 90 is rotatably mounted on member A and in the position shown in Figure 4. This shaft is operatively connected to shaft 69:` by means of two universal joints 92 and an intervening shaft 9|. An operating connection is made between shaft 90 and shaft 50 by means of sprockets 93 and 94 and a chain 95 (see Figure 4). I provide a vertically positioned shafti 96 (see Figure 2) which acts as a driver for the tying mechanism G and for operating the needles as shown: i

Shaft 96 is operatively connected to shaft 90 by means jof a pinion 91 and a gear 98. Means are provided (not shown) whereby normally shaft 96 will only operate when link 39 forms f an operating connection between shafts and 96 and whereby the fingers will be operated at .there is a period of dwell provided for the needles |00, when-they are in the position shown by full lines in Figures 1 and 6.

The-timing of member G and the needles are shown vin full lines, packing plungerv 24 has started its rearward movement, after which the v needles enter the slots |0| in this member. The rear end of needles |00'are mounted on a shaft 02, the shaft being rotatably mounted von member A (see Figure 3) by means of bearings |03- |93, the shaft extending a distance below the lower bearing and having secured thereto an arm |04. A crank99 is mounted on the lower end of shaft 96 and is operatively connected to arm |04 by means of links |05, |06 and |01.

InFigures 1 and 6, these links are shown diagrammatically and when needles |00 are in the position shown by dotted lines, the links are in the position shown by dotted lines and .when the needles are in the position shown by full lines the links are in the position shown by full lines.

In the former the crank is in the extreme right position (see Figure 0) and in the latter, crank 99 is in the left position as shown. It will therefore be seen that a joint |08 and link |01 permit a period of dwell for the needles during about one-third of a turn? of crank 99, therefore the movement of the needles is confined to about two thirds of a turn of the crank so that by positioning shaft 96 as shown, the needles will be permitted to operate without interference and be properly timed to accommodate the movements of the wad board, packing plunger and tying mechanism.

By scrutinizing Figure 6 the object ofthe shape off needles |00 will be apparent. Full line ||5 illustrates the position ofthe twine orwire as it leads from the roll or ball through the needles and to the bale, and from the bale tothe tying mechanism and while the tying takes place the wire or twine is shown by dotted lines H6. `It will be'seen that the wire or twine will be stretched tightly over the Aend of the bale which is designated fractionally by reference numeral ||1. It will also be seen that after the tying has been completed and thebale -cut free, rit will be permitted to expand very little before'the slack between the bale and tying mechanism is taken up. Therefore the tying material will be taut on the completed bale after it has been cut free and the wire or twine` will again assume the position shown by full lines when the needles are in the position of dwell. f

It will be seen that the position of shaft |02, shape of the ngers |00 and the position of member G are important matters; furthermore the dual'drive for members D, E' and G is important because when the machine is traveling rapidly, member D must turn rapidly in order to handle the hay. On the other hand if the machine travels more slowly .than normal or if it is not moving at all, all of the operating parts of the machine may be kept moving by engine C. Y

I will now describe my novel pick up elevator D.

Ground wheel axle l l0 is mounted on members A and E. The pick up device D is hinged adjacent axle ||8 as at |25 so it may be raised and,

actress lowered. Acn- .thisfpivot es will-hereinatfer appear: Transversely spaced arms |26 extend from pivots 42.5 upwardly and forwardlyandgare rigid- 1y;connectedv preferably to; a transverse tube 21 (see Figure112)`,;thetube having Secured thereto transversely vspaced -,apartv arms 28" Y-betvveen which: the rotoriof the 'picksxpis positioned having ashaft .|28 Which'is rotatablyvniounted in bearings |30 which are .secured arms |28. Shaft.82 Ais :ruxferativeiy-v connected to .shaft |29 b-ynieansv of; another shaft |,3 and-suitablenniversai ici-nts. f''lhe; roter is formedby. inea-ns of spaced apart'discs HIL-.432l secured .to shaft. |29. Between ,the right handdsc |32 and its arm- 28 and secured to thearml ra zdisc; |-3 3, .Preferahl-y six tubes 134aregretatably Amounted in .circumferentially `spaced relation-in discs |32, the right hand :endsof these tubes protruding through members. |32 :and having secured thereto -levers |35, each` having archer. 36- whieh isadapted to ride onthe periphery ofgmember |53.4

:Each tube Nilis-provided with a number. .of spaced apart viingers |31 (.seerFigures land. 1.2), Between'eaeh circumferential Vrow oi fingers I position `a stripper platel which isshapedas illustrated iid-Figure 12, one end of each extending over aplate |39 'which acts-'asa forward extension t plated. ,Each tube |34 is .preferably provided' with afspring :(not shown) -adapted to yieldingiy cause-rollers |-35fto ride over the .peripheryofdisc 133. The cutaway portionl ofthe jdisc|33 .gisadapted `to cause the nngers |31 to disengagefthemselves from the hay as theywpass dovvnwar,d between the strippersand this cutie-way portion is adapted -to swing theiingersgforward as'they approach the ground surface soas tofengageand lift-the hayrrom the ground as the fingerscontact the windrow of hay. I providefwind guards Mil- 14| and preerably position oneahoveeachstripper |38, or. atleast one above everycther stripper .as follows: I provide two gathering guard 1.42 v.and preferably secure them tothe outer strippers (see Figure 1). They Aare-also secured'toarms 128, these .arms being `extended .for/ward of, members |42 as at |43 and having preferably .atransverse bar |45 which extendsfnpwardly atitssndsas at m5 andbeing rai-voted -to-arms- |28 as .at-|45. Members |41 are secured to bar |44, in the posi.- tion as shown inFigure 12fwithftheirrear ends yieldin-gly lying -on the strippers and terminating largely atthe inlet of the-transverse conveyor troughv and'over member |39. Members 1| Miet .their upper endsareconnected to members |42 `by means of pull-springs |41,th11s to vyieidingly hold the rear ends-of members. fdl ori-.theme31- ing hay. lThe vfront .ends of members. |41 are curved as-illustrated thus `to iormaneasydnlet to the Vpick. up rotor Aand an easy .upward and rearwardpath between the. strippersand v.mem-

bers UH. Members |132 act to prevent `the-hay from spreadingand to .assist in confining-it Within theilength of the rotor. l preferably provide a'lever n|5t| v'(see Figure ,2) .with .a connection t.to

`t-he inner member M3 Yforregulating the height .of the piek up rotor D. 4This lever ,is preferably mounted on a rshaft 15| and'is adapted tovengage a sector |53, shaft'iel .having .a lever |54 which extends to the right with `a connecting link which is at' its lower end connected to the inner extension |43. Thus fby'manipulating lever-f15de-members)may-be raised or lowered onipivotnand locked into the desired position. .It will-.be. seen= that I have., provided apick up hay baler, all of the units of which cooperateto produce avery simple and successful machine. "Elearygminor detail changes may be madein the designs shown ofthe various parts of my machine without departingrfrom the spirit and scope of the appended-claims.

f ln a'pickmp haler ofthe character described, having a Wheel-.carried frame, a power source on saidframaapioh-up elevator, a transverse conveyorhaving-an-irdetior receivingr the hay from the eleva-tor, :a wadboardand Wad-board Well having an inlet `frornnsaid transverse conveyor, a packing chamber and fa Yplunger therefor conip'risingin combination, said transverse conveyor comprising 'f a bottom plate with-vertically arrangedside'paneis and an'outer endpanel forming a trough With Aan `inlet'frorn said pick-up elevater, its' Vinner endhaving 'an outlet into said Wald-board well, .a pair vof :spaced shafts transversel'j'and rotatably mounted on said side Walls and `a' distance 'above said vbottom piate, each sai{i' 'slfafts 'having a pair' of cranks, walker bars rotatably mountedLon aligned cranks, each having' spaced'depending fingers adapted to eng-age the `hay discharged fromsaid pick-up elevator and'move the' hay intermittently-into said -Wadhoard'` Weil largely when th'eWad-board is out of the-well. A

' 2. In a-pick-up baler having a Well, a Wad board 'for forcing material into said Well'by reciprocating'in'a' substantially vertical direction from a raised inoperative position to a lowered position, a pick up mechanism; an improved feeder mechanism vfor conveying material from said pick-up to said 'well comprising, a trough,

" Referencescitea in the sie of this patent UNITED srarss PATENTS Number Name v Date 556,233- Wickey Mar. 10, k1896 `v874,306 4Cumpston Dec. 17, 1907 11,027,966 ,Young May 28, 1912 Y 1,158,654 yDudley Nov. 2, 1915 1,564,629 Ruth Dec. 8, 1925 1,857,373 Goggins May .10, 1932 .12,236,628 Nolt Apr. l, 1941 :12,318,229- ,Jones May 4, 1943 2,362,861 Russell Nov. 14, 1944:

,#2,411,473 y Stants Nov. 19, 1946 2,446,878 j 'Kaupke Aug. 10, 1948 2,478,324- Russell Aug. 9, 1949 x,2,485,001 vKane Oct. 18, 1949 2,524,233 Russell Oct. 3, 1950 -2;528,538 Nolt Nov. 7, 1950 

